Whiffletree-hook



(Model.)

A. D. HIOKO'K. .WHIFPLETRBE' HOOK.

110,2 1,710; Patented July 25, 1882.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

" ALONZO D. HIGKOK, OF COLUMBUS CITY, IOWA.

WHlFFLETREE-HOOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 261,710, dated July 25, 1882.

Application filed February 21, [882. (ModeL) To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALONZO D. HIOKOK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Golumbus City, in the county of Louisa and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Whiffletree-Hooks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in whiffletree-hooks; and it consists in thecombination of a hook having a chamber formed in it with a locking device and spring, the hook having a grooved chamber formed in it, provided with a stop upon its top, and a vertical groove for the arm on the part around which the spring is wrapped to pass through, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The object of my invention is to add to a whiffletree-hook a spring-snap forclosing over the upper portion of the hook and keeping it always closed, so that the trace can never become accidentally loosened.

Figure l is a verticallongitudinal section of my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 8 is a detail view. Fig. 4. is a plan view of the hook and screw alone. Fig. 5 is a detached view of the snap.

A represents an ordinary whiffletree-ferrule and B the wbiffletree-screw. Upon the outer end of this screw is formed the hook D, one end of which is made considerablylonger than the other, and has a notch made in its inner side in which the outer end of the spring-snap 0 catches when closed. I

Formed in the body of the hook is a suitable chamber,E, which has an opening through both top and bottom, and which has a suitable vertical notch, F, formed in one side of its top. Upon the top of this chamber is formed the projection G, which acts as a stop to prevent the snap from moving too far around, the snap 0 being provided with the projection I to catch against the stop after the hook has been turned around at or about right angles.

Inside of the chamber E is formed a horizontal groove, which extends about one quarter around, and in which catches the projection J, formed on the pivoted part of the snap O. This projection passes down through the vertical notch made through the top of the chamber, and catches under its top portion, so as to prevent the snap from being withdrawn until it is turned so that this projection comes just opposite the notch F.

A suitable spiral spring, P, is applied to the pivotal or vertical part of the snap, so as to cause the snap to always close against the upper portion of the hook whenever itisleft free to move. One end of this spring is fastened to the pivotal part of the snap, while the other end is passed through the small hole that is made through one side of the chamber. This wire, out of which the spring is made, after havinghad one end passed through the opening inthe side of the chamber and its other end fastened to the pivoted part of the snap, will be gradually formed into aspring by having the pivotal portion of the snap constantly turned until the spring has been wound sufficiently tight around it to act in the manner desired. After this spring is properly applied the snap is kept always pressed around, so that its outer end will catch in the notch made in the upper portion of the hook, and thus prevent the trace from coming loose until the snap has been pressed backward. An automatically-acting safety-lock like what is here shown and described will prevent the trace from ever accidentally becoming loosened.

Having thus described my invention, I claim The combination of the rotating snap consistin g of the vertical pivotal partaround which the spring is wrapped, and the horizontal arm which catches in the notch made in the hook, with the body of the hook having the chamber E made in it, the said chamber being provided with a stop upon its top, a vertical notch through. its top, and a slot made in its interior, substantially as shown.

ALONZO D. HIGKOK.

Witnesses J. B. DoDDs, THOS. G. ALLEN. 

